How to Increase Estrogen by WikiHow

Estrogen is a natural hormone found in both men and women. Keeping estrogen at a healthy level is important for both genders, but women need more estrogen for normal bodily functions, such as conceiving children. During menopause, estrogen levels in women decrease significantly. The methods for how to increase estrogen levels are the same for men and women, although men have a lower capacity for acquiring the hormone. If you want to increase your estrogen levels, read these helpful facts.

Part 1 of 3: General Practices

1

Visit your doctor to determine your estrogen levels. Before you embark on an estrogen treatment program, consult your doctor about the effects of estrogen on your body. While estrogen insufficiency can result in a host of problems, too much estrogen (called estrogen dominance) has been linked to menstrual disturbances, ovarian cysts, and breast cancer.[1]

If you are experiencing hormonal imbalances, a doctor can prescribe blood tests to make sure that low levels of estrogen is the problem. Normal estrogen levels in women prior to menopause range from 50 pg/mL to 400 pg/mL. If your estrogen levels are below 100 pg/mL, you might experience symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes.

2

Maintain a healthy diet. Avoid foods high in sugars and carbohydrates. Eating additional lean protein, and foods low in fat and high in fiber, can increase your estrogen levels.

Go for foods that are high in phytoestrogens, which are naturally-occurring substances found in plants that can imitate the function of estrogen in the body.[2] For foods that are rich in phytoestrogens, eat

Legumes, and especially soybeans, because they contain isoflavonoids, a type of phytoestrogen.

Bran, beans, fruits and vegetables, because they contain lignans, another type of phytoestrogen.

Peas, pinto and lima beans, because they contain coumestan, another type of phytoestrogen.

Be careful, however, about excessive consumption of estrogen-rich foods. Too much phytoestrogen consumption may cause tissue growth[2], making it unsafe for women who have previously had breast cancer.

Your endocrine system requires a healthy body in order to work properly and produce normal levels of estrogen. Eat a wide variety of fresh, organic foods to give your system the best chance to naturally produce estrogen.

3

Exercise, but not fanatically. Excessive exercise has been linked to a drop in estrogen levels[3], although regular exercise has also been linked to drops in estrogen levels as well.[4] The difference is while normal exercise is healthy — and might decrease the risk of breast cancer in women[4] and overall longevity[5] — excessive exercise may not be. The increase of estrogen levels due to reduction is exercise is simply not worth it.

Athletes may experience a drop in estrogen levels. This is because women with low levels of body fat have more trouble producing estrogen.[3] If you are an athlete or have very low body fat levels, see your doctor for an appropriate response to replenishing your estrogen